The Moving picture world (November 1924-December 1924)

November 15, 1924 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 233 New York State Chain Owner Uses Autos for Billboards William Smalley, who now owns an even dozen theatres, is using three Ford cars as traveling billboards over his territory. Mr. Smalley started with one car and found the idea so good that he has added two more. The cars are painted yellow and black and travel over the section in which Mr. Smalley's houses are located, going from place to place with the cars announcing attractions at the Smalley houses. He uses a three-piece orchestra in each of his houses, except for specials, when his orchestras are increased to six or seven pieces. He replaced two organs with orchestras. Mr. Smalley will open his Hamilton house on November 6, using "Gridiron Glory" as one of the features on account of Colgate University being located in Hamilton. It is the first college town which Mr. Smalley has entered. Mr. Smalley charges a uniform 25 cent admission at all of his houses, with 35 cents for specials. When showing "Our Gang" comedies he features the same, especially in Cooperstown. Mr. Smalley has no partner. While in Albany last week he reported business as good and the outlook as excellent. In his Sidney and Cooperstown houses he is using as lobby decorations artificial vines running from the center to the celling. He recently secured a Gila monster from Phoenix, Ariz., and is using this in store windows to attract crowds with an advertisement carrying the attraction at the nearby theatre as a background. Everyone along: Film Row was glad to hear during: the past week that Judge Charles McCarthy, owner of the New Theatre at Hoosick Falls, was up and around again. Mr. McCarthy was sick in bed for about a week. Frank Bruner, former manager of the Pathe exchange here and well known to exhibitors throughout the state, is at a Chicago hospital with pneumonia. Sam Slotnick, of Mahawk, in town during the past week, opened wide his purse strongs as he bought between thirty and forty pictures for his theatre. The Hunchback of Note Dame" will be shown at the Rose in Troy on November 8 at an admission price of 10 cents. "The Covered Wagon" will also be shown at the same theatre later in the month at a like price. With the first snowflakes at least two Northern New York exhibitors will hie away for balmy Florida. Arthur Richardson of Schroon Lake, who reports business as having been exceptionally good during the summer, will leave during the month for Orlando, Pla., while Harlan Nicholas of the Photoplay at Keeseville will make the trip by motor. When Earl Flack, owner of the Star in Potsdam, leaves on a deer hunting trip this month, he doesn't intend to be cut off from the affairs of the world. Along with his gun, Mr. Flack will take his radio outfit and rig it up in the cabin which he will occupy far from the beaten highway. Ben Apple, owner of the American in Troy and tipping the scales at 278 pounds, joins with his friend Bill Oaten, 210 pounds, in a challenge to bowl any two men in the world at their weight. Several persons from Gouverneur were guests of the Papayanakos brothers at the opening of their new house, the Rialto, in Potsdam on Monday evenin. Harry Papayanakos, who has managed the Graylin in Gouverneur, will handle the new house, while his brother, James, will look after the Gouveneur Theatre. The house was sold out on the opening night twenty-five minutes after the sale of tickets started. The house seats about 1,000. A decorative painting, with a shield with the word "Rialto" in the center, extends across the top of the stage. All the theatres in Troy extended the courtesy of the houses to the sailors aboard the destroyers in the harbor last week, when Navy Day was observed in the Capital District. It's tough on Bob Landry of Ogdensburg to be laid up with a bad cold right after buying a new Marnion roadster. Mr. Landry is also booking for Malone and admits that he has absolutely nothing to complain of in the way of business. The largest number of tickets ever sold by an organization sharing in the proceeds with the Troy Theatre brought a tremendous jam to the presentation of "Yolanda" at the Troy last week. The Industrial Club of Troy disposed of over 6,000 tickets in advance. The sale was carried on similar to a drive, with every manufacturing industry in the city competing. The same procedure will be carried out next week in connection with "Merton of the Movies." Observing the second Harvest Week, the Rose in Troy, charging 10 cents admission, certainly furnished plenty of entertainment with double features, a comedy, a news reel and an educational each day, and in addition presented patrons holding lucky coupons with handsome presents. On one night the winners were given beautiful ferns; on another night, potatoes; a third night, apples; a fourth night, blankets, and a fifth night, boxes of candy. Jacob Rosenthal, owner of the house, plans to give away forty turkeys It Wasn't a Cat Al Bothner will never, never again attempt to pick up what appeared at least to be one of his wife's Angora kittens. The other night, Mr. Bothner, who runs a theatre in Troy, came home along about 11:30 p. m. and noticed what he supposed was a kitchen near the porch. Just exactly what happened isn't necessary to explain, but at any rate Mr. Bothner's blue serge now reposes under a foot of earth and he has discovered that there is a vast difference between an Angora cat and a skunk. Mike Kallat of Oneida, with theatres in that city, Rome and Canastota, fared better, for although he saw a skunk calmly walking down the Main street in Oneida one night, he left it alone. at Thanksgiving time. He goes under the policy that whatever he gives must be of the best. "There is no use giving away anything that is not up to standard," said Mr. Rosenthal last week, "for otherwise you will lose your patrons. The exhibitor shouldn't kid himself by kidding the people." L. L Connors, running houses in Cambridge, Granville and Salem, signed up the past week for the entire Universal output. According to rumors, James Rose, salesman at the local Pathe exchange for the past five years, may take over the management of one of the Buettner houses. Mr. Rose resigned his position the past week and has been succeeded by Vincent Fisher, former booker in the exchange. Louis Saperstein, manager of the Rose Theatre in Troy, has returned from a two weeks' trip to New York City. A boy from the Troy High School wijl be installed as head usher at the Lincoln Theatre and another will also be placed at the head of the ushers at the Troy Theatre. H. C. Bissell has been elected president of the film salesmen of Albany, succeeding (Continued on next page) For Release in November — Now Booking PRODUCERS DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION TfaGIRLoiv *t/*STAIRS ELNfER HARRIS Production STARRING ! syggj ?atsy Jlurh Miller JSBMSft,, mm im > AINtl.EE MAGAZINE ■Hry *T WINSTON BOUVE nj U I PENINSULA STUDIOS INC. , EgSSSSSSEBarsassss^ Season 19241925— Thirty FirstRun Pictures